Diabetic Daily Log

KIRKLAND: Lufkin's long history of more than a few good physicians

When the late Dr. W.D. Thames Jr. began compiling his widely recognized historical account of local physicians, he set about to record every minute detail possible — details that would bring to life his subjects in a personal way, as well as specific facts about the professional practice of each in the community.

Thames listed the two first recorded practitioners in Angelina County as Dr. J.H. Frazier and Dr. J.S. Spivey. Both men were registered in May 1882, and both practiced in Homer. Next man up. Dr. R.S. Fife, registered on Feb. 20, 1883, and practiced in Lufkin.

Records show that from then until 1900, a long line of physicians registered, and they listed the locations of their practice as Homer, Marion, Pollok, Burke, Lufkin, Clawson, Eudora, Ivey, Emporia, Durst and Mott. Several doctors stated simply “Angelina County.”

In 1886 two physicians were practicing in the town of Lufkin — A.H. DuBose and W.B. Treadwell. Lufkin’s population was 100. In 1890, it had swelled to 1,000, and seven practicing physicians were listed on the books. J.A. Abney was one of these.

Dr. Abney once wrote about those pioneer days. In a little brochure written for his grandchildren, he began by saying that he was born in 1846 in a log cabin in Mississippi. When he was seven, his parents moved to Angelina County.

Living conditions were primitive and his education meager. When he was 18, he enlisted in the Confederate Army and served until Lee’s surrender. Then he returned home, he said, penniless and afoot.

In 1869, now married, he enrolled in the medical branch of Soule University at Galveston, which was established by the Methodist Conference of Texas.

After graduation, Abney returned to East Texas. He built up a very large practice over a formidable territory that included Lufkin, Angelina County, and any area he could get to by horse. He kept on hand two or three good horses, he explained, and a man to care for them, so the doctor could be ready to answer calls — many of them by night. He carried an assortment of standard drugs in a huge pair of pill bags swung across a saddle. He also carried a pocket case of instruments, two of which he invented, and did minor surgery free-gratis.

“Out of this enormous amount of hard, cheap work,” he said, “by tact and good management I collected about 50 to 75 percent of the amounts charged on the books. I did a large charity practice that wasn’t put on the books.

I'm Scared & I Need Some Advice - Diabetes Daily

I have been using Novolin R & NPH since I was first diagnosed at the age of 9 in 1991. I've never really had an issue with my sugar being high, it's usually an issue of my blood sugar dropping low. I am very active and low blood sugar has always been something I am extremely cautious and aware of. Recently, my sugar has been getting scary low. I can feel the difference between a "R Low" and an "N Low". The R low is typical; sweaty palms, insatiable hunger, shaking, etc. I can instantly identify the issue and correct it immediately. I've been experiencing a lot of lows with my N dose lately. One happened today and was incredibly scary. I had no idea my sugar was low, but I was literally out of my mind and incoherent. Luckily, I had stopped by my Mother's house and she came home in time to save me. I blacked out during this last experience. When she came home, she found me upstairs in her guest room bed with nothing but my pants on. I was passed out on the bed and, apparently, mumbling incoherently. She (being the awesome and experienced Mother she is!) knew exactly what was wrong. She got sugar into my system and when I came to, asked me how it had gotten so low. I had no answer because I had no idea that it had dropped. I remember walking shakily around the living room downstairs, ranting and raving and falling down from time to time because I was so shaky my legs failed me. If someone had seen me, they probably would have assumed that I was highly intoxicated or on some kind of drug. This scares the hell out of me. I'm thinking that I need to change the way my insulin is administered into my system. I've never been interested in the pump for personal and vain reasons. However, I'm beginning to acknowledge that at the end of September, I will have been managing this beast for 20 years. Due to my active lifestyle and good control, I have to date experienced ZERO complications. The fact that my sugar can drop so low and me not even realize that that is the issue, I view as a complication. Can anyone help with suggestions or advice? I feel as though my doctor gives me doctor answers and not human answers. I'm scared. Had I been at my own home (where I live alone) or in public, who knows what state I would be in right now. I'm sure SOMEONE here has the pump and glucose tube (The thing you can insert just like the pump which monitors your glucose level). Are these painful? How is the maintenance of these devices?

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